Zen-Pier State of Mind: Intention Statement
My name is Mercedes Brown, and I am from Jacksonville, FL. I am a Mass Communications graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL and I am currently enrolled in the Entertainment Business Master’s program at Full Sail University. From the time I was very young, I knew the only thing that I ever had true, passionate interest in, was music. The sound of eclectic R&B soul, the upbeat tempo of 70’s funk, and the loud base of early 90’s hip-hop invaded my life as a small child and has only grown since. While my other artistic interests range from film/television production, graphic design, and creative writing; music always seemed to trump them all. Not just listening to it, but the art of creating, as well as performing it. Something about being able to express any more emotion while adding rhythm and a plethora of instruments was therapeutic to me.
As an artist, I aspire to be a lot in my career. I truly want to be an influence and a positive example in the industry that I love. My current goal during my time in this program is to start my entertainment production company and label. Recently, I’ve discovered my city is home to a plethora of talented and dedicated artists. Networking was the next step. In my Mastery, I aspire to master basic business skills such as marketing/promotions, branding, and business structure in order to create an empire known as “Zen Waves.”
I chose the term “Zen” for my brand because it’s the mantra I chose for my life. Complete peace and a sense of feeling whole. While I truly believe being an entertainer (in most rights) can’t be taught, the business can. Some key elements I hope to learn in my Mastery are how to appeal to your audience through digital marketing, the management and grooming of artists, and the ins and outs of being a leader in one of the biggest industries in the world. In short, I am truly ecstatic to have the opportunity to hone my craft even more. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.
/Zen/: a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.
